The Hart with Fiery Tail, Attended by an Angel

This is a composite magical image: a hart (male deer) whose tail burns with flame, accompanied by a winged angelic figure. The hart is classically a symbol of spiritual longing and purity—the soul that pants for the water-brooks (Psalm 42:1). Its presence on a magical image indicates a swift, pure, and ceaseless pursuit of the divine. The fiery tail adds an alchemical dimension: fire is the agent of transmutation, burning away the dross of the material to reveal the spiritual. The angel, as a guide or guardian, underscores the divine authority and protection attending this process.

Position on the Tree of Life

This image corresponds to Path 29, which runs from Malkuth (the Kingdom, the material world) to Yesod (the Foundation, the lunar sphere of astral illusion and dreams). The hart thus represents the soul’s first active ascent from the physical plane into the astral, a journey of purification and longing.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

While no single planet governs Path 29, the image’s attributes resonate with the lunar sphere of Yesod—hidden depths, cycles of growth, and the transformation of base desire into refined aspiration. The fiery tail tempers the passive, reflective nature of the moon with an active, purifying fire.

Historical Context

The hart is a persistent figure in Western mysticism. In Celtic tradition, the white stag is a messenger from the Otherworld, leading the seeker on a quest. In Christian allegory, the hart represents the soul yearning for God, often associated with Christ. Alchemically, the stag and unicorn appear as symbols for the volatile and fixed principles; the hart’s fiery tail may refer to the ignis naturalis, the natural fire that aids the work of transmutation. The angel appears in many grimoires as a figure of initiation, granting access to hidden knowledge. The specific composite form here—not a full transformation like the “wolf with serpent’s tail” (Path 17) or the “angel with lion’s head, goose’s feet, horse’s tail” (Path 24)—is unique to this step, emphasizing guidance and urgency rather than chaos or hybridity.

In Liber 777

At the scale step for Path 29, the table of Magical Images in Column CLV gives: “(1) Hart with fiery tail. (2) Angel.” This selection stands among other vivid composite images of the adjacent paths, each a distinct emblem for meditation and magical projection.